“Pray without ceasing.” (1st Thess. 5:17)
Circumstances throughout our lives with the Almighty alter our prayers, and I believe this is intentional, whether allowed or brought on by our Father in heaven, all those things that come into our lives are for good, and a modification of our prayers assists us in growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.
“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” (Matt. 6:7)
Repetition in our prayers will cause a callousness towards them, they cease to come from our heart, and the intended purpose shifts away from praise, thanksgiving and petitions and becomes nothing more than words spoken with little thought to who we are speaking to.
Not concerning ourselves here with the works-based religious organizations who adhere to the traditions of prayer, a good example for those who have been saved by grace through faith might be prayers offered before a meal, repetition to a degree occurs because of the occurrence, and even when modified slightly, they remain basically the same. Sadly, this regularity happens on a regular basis every Sunday morning in nearly every Evangelical church as well.
But no matter the place or time, we tend to either forget, or worse, take for granted that we are entering into the throne room of the Living God, where holiness fills the halls, and a flippant, nonchalant attitude, one that exhibits an almost too personal relationship there is not to be the attitude of our heart.
“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” (Psalm 2:11)
And so, at times, the circumstances of our lives are intentionally altered by the Most High so that our prayers will be altered as well.
Needs and wants create a different path for our prayer life, we are taken out of the expected, the circumstances of our lives are altered, thus altering our prayers in a manner that should reflect our desire, if not to know His will in our lives in that time, but how we are to respond to it in a way that will continue to glorify Him in it. Without the altering of circumstances my friends, we will never understand the truth of Philippians 4:11.
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Without trials and tribulations, we will continue in a standardized, formulated prayer life that by our very nature will become repetitive, routine, and so familiar to our Father in heaven that they may themselves become abhorrent to Him.
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)
That continuous repetition my friends may create within us a familiarity that is not to be present in us, reverence for the Living God is never to be forgotten by us. And so, in His infinite mercy, He alters the situations of our lives, thus altering our prayers to reflect our need for Him, and thereby our desire to lift up His name in ways we never have before.
The Scriptures are filled with examples of these truths. In the throne room of the King of Kings is no place for familiarity, it is no place for idle banter, it is the place of abject humility and reverence for holiness, and we must remember this every time we lift up our prayers to Him with whom all have to do.
We call Him Abba, Father, yes, but we also remember our place, we remember that we are dust.
Give God the glory when the circumstances are altered, whether it be trials, tribulations or increased benefits, for every situation allows us to pray in new ways, in ways that allow us to glorify His name even greater.
“Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;” (Psalm 108:5)
